HELP: Canon Vixia HF20 isn't recognized by my MAC

I've got the same issue. My MacBook Pro mounts the camera but not my iMac. They are both running the latest Mac OS (10.6.2). The iMac doesn't mount the camera at all. Finder shows no camera and neither does Disk Utility. However, both iPhoto and Canon's Image Browser Software can download still shots from the SD Card on the camera. What's going on?!?!

Canon recommends you turn on the camcorder and set it to play and verify that the camera sees that it has made a connection to the computer before you start the computer's video capture program such as iMovie or Final Cut. Is that what you have done? Did the camera see the computer and the problem is the computer or video capture app is not seeing the camcorder?

It has been suggested by others that they had more success starting the video software first and then setting the camcorder to PLAY, or turning the setting to RECORD and then quickly changing it to PLAY to get the video software to see the camera. It has worked for others...

I too was having difficulty importing into iMovie 09 from my HF20. I had been successful previously, but this time no amount of plugging and unplugging or restarting in any order would do. The camera's HDD showed up as a drive in the Finder, but (of course) you cannot import those files directly (they are greyed out).

I then tried five (FIVE!) other iMacs with no success and my older Macbook . . . nothing.

Then tonight I went into the clips on the camcorder and deleted a bunch of clips that I had previously imported (and presumably "deleted") but were still listed in the file structure of the camera. They had no data (they had question marks over them) but they were still 'sort of there'. I deleted 45 of these phantom files and returned to my iMac. After plugging in the camera and setting to PC connection on the camera iMovie immediately asked if I wanted to import them . . . after all the frustration I was a little shocked that it worked.

And it continues to work. If it wasn't such a pain I would try to replicate the problem . . . I just can't be bothered.

I hope this helps someone. I was completely dumbfounded.

I just started having this same issue tonight its very frustrating as ****. I have been dorking around with software to edit and burn these file way to long and now it doesn't mount on my desktop like it did before. I have re intialised it, reset it, powered it off it wont show up on my mac. And who ever the dork is saying you need firewire and push play you have no clue about this. When I connect it to my PS3 it sees it and plays the clips. Why wont my my MacBook do this anymore? I installed VM Fusion and windows 7 ultimate last night and Pinnacle HD hoping to be able to use it with my HF20 but that ran slow as **** trying to import. I safely ejected the camera then tonight I tried messing with log and transfer to FCE but I couldn't get the camera to even show up. I notice when I plug in the usb and select pc the usb symbol flashes the whole time and there is a blank screen on the LCD of the camera. It used to say some stuff and the symbol would stay lit and not blink. I tested this on my PS3 and it stays lit no blinking with words on the screen about not disconnecting power etc.
I also notice everytime I power it of I get a warning sign telling me its busy but it powers off anyway. Please help Im tired of dealing with this camera. It shoots great video. But this format is kicking my but and wallet.

Is your camera connected to your Mac connected via Firewire to iMovie? If not, what type of connection and software are you using?